As we continue to explore the three states and changes of matter, today in Grade 7 we watched our water molecules dance. Each team started out with 4 ice cubes, a beaker and a hot plate. We watched the temperature climb as our ice became water, and finally steam; proving that even watching water boil is fun when you are in the Science Lab 😉

Last week, students practiced their oral language skills through an exciting instant challenge. Each group of students was given a paper bag of mystery ingredients. After choosing their challenge card (to create a device to help a homesick pet goldfish who was staying with another family while his own was on vacation), the groups got to work creating their devices and then presented them to the class. Below are some shots of everyone in action.

It is hard to imagine that month of September is almost over and we are entering into our first full week of fall. I hope that everyone had a chance to take advantage of the beautiful weather over the weekend! I also want to thank everyone for all their help on Friday with our Terry Fox Run. We had a blast and I look forward to hearing all about the total amount raised for this fantastic cause 🙂

This week is shaping up to be a busy one.

Let’s now take a look at the learning that will take place over this week in our classes…

French-We have started our first piece of writing in our writer’s workshop. This week we will review the structure of a fictional story as we continue drafting our draft copies using Google Docs.
Later on this week we will start into the first unit of our “Littératie en action” text entitled “Une question d’équité.” In this unit students will explore the question “How can we make things more equitable in the world?” They will read short biographies and stories about people who have fought for equality. At the end of the unit, students will show what they have learned by creating a prize or a trophy to honor someone who has fought for justice and equality in the world. They will use reading, writing, oral and media skills and strategies to complete the task.

Science-As we travel through our unit on matter, this week we will finish up our discovery of molecules and their structure and we will continue to examine the Periodic Table of the Elements and discuss how matter is organized. Each student has chosen an element to research and to use to show their understanding of how to read the Periodic Table. Over the next few days we will complete and share these projects and then begin our summary activities for Chapter 1.

Grade 9 Science- As we work through our biology unit, this week we will continue to discuss both mitosis and meiosis and how these processes produce new cells.

Grade 7 Science- Over the next few days we will complete our study of changes in states of matter. We will then begin to define mass, learn how to measure the mass of different substances and start to discuss the differences between mass and weight.

Grade 4-9 Core French-This week we will continue our new units on pass times that we enjoy. Over the next few classes we will explore vocabulary related to different pass times and we will begin to share our likes and dislikes with our peers using the structures “J’aime ça” and “Je n’aime pas ça.”

Have a wonderful week!

Mme MacNevin

This week in Grade 9 Science, students extracted DNA molecules from strawberries and examined them under a microscope.

In Grade 8, we are learning all about how molecules form from atoms. Students used marshmallows and straws to represent different molecules including water, sugar and flour.

Check it out!

It was great to see so many familiar faces and some new ones too at our “Meet the Staff” event on Thursday evening.

Please continue to follow our class blog for updates throughout the year and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions 🙂

Last week we kicked off our annual Terry Fox fundraiser. Pledge sheets were sent home on Thursday with our K-6 students. There are also many fun spirt week activities planned this week to help raise funds for this wonderful cause. Check out the school’s webpage for more details.

Our Terry Fox Walk/Run and Fun Day will take place on Friday, September 21st. In the morning, students will walk along the beautiful Gulf Shore Parkway in the PEI National Park. In the afternoon, they will be treated to a BBQ lunch generously put on by our Home and School. After lunch, the fun will continue as we participate in many interactive building activities put on by our Student Leadership Team. To date Gulf Shore School has raised more than $100,000.00 for the Terry Fox Foundation. Let’s keep that total rising!

Teen and Club de lecture book order forms from Scholastic will be available in the next few days. These book orders are a great way to pick up some reading materials for home all while supporting our teachers to purchases books for their classroom libraries 🙂

Our Hot Lunch program is now up and running. Please refer to the Milk and Hot Lunch Sales tab on our school’s website for more details.

Parents and guardians are invited to our first Home and School meeting of the 2017-2018 school year that will be held on Wednesday, September 19th at 7:00pm in the Science Lab. Everyone is welcome to attend 🙂

School pictures will take place on October 2nd. Please see the webpage for more information.

With all those housekeeping announcements out of the way, now let’s take a look at what we will be learning during our classes together this coming week…

French- Last week students visited the library to select a novel for independent reading. They have chosen their “émolit” to represent their thinking as they read.

Our oral presentations last Thursday and Friday helped us to establish criteria around what counts when we present to the class. These presentations also provided a great starting point for us to identify areas for improvement when it comes to our individual short term language goals.

This week we will begin brainstorming ideas for our first piece of writing, as we set up our writer’s workshop; reviewing the six traits of writing and the writing process.

Diagnostic testing will also continue in grammar and both written and oral comprehension.

Science-We are now fully immersed in our first unit: “L’univers materiel.” This week we will continue to discuss atoms and molecules and Dalton’s atomic theory. We will also begin to examine the Periodic Table of the Elements and discuss how matter is organized and grouped on the table.

Grade 9 Science- We are well into our biology unit: “L’univers vivant.” Last week we learned about DNA and its make-up. This week we will explore the life cycle of a cell and the importance of cell division and genetic diversity. We will also begin to discuss how cells reproduce, both asexually and sexually, through the processes of mitosis and meiosis.

Grade 7 Science- Late last week we kicked off the first unit of our Science program on matter. Students discussed the three states of matter and how atoms behave in each state. They even became solid, liquid and gas particules, as we acted out “the dance of the atoms” to explain the properties of each state of matter. This week we will begin to look at how changes in temperature impact that behavior, as we explore how substances can change from one state of matter to another.

Grade 4-9 Core French- Over the next few classes we will continue to work to create our French class routines and review what we studied in previous years. We will also kick off our first units of study. In Grades 4-6 students will begin a unit called “Ah oui! J’aime ça!. In Grades 7-9 we will start a unit called “On est capable”. In both these units we will explore vocabulary surrounding pass times, sports, and games as students learn to express their likes and interests, in addition to their dislikes, en français 🙂

Have a fabulous week!

Mme MacNevin

Today in Grade 9 Science, students created DNA molecules to demonstrate their understanding of the base pairs and the double helix form using marshmallows and Twizzlers. Take a look at their progress, as well as their yummy finished products 🙂 Isn’t Science Fun?

I hope that everyone had fantastic first few days of school and a wonderful weekend! It is so refreshing to be back into our regular routines 🙂 We spent most of last week getting acquainted with our new classes and I’m sure everyone is looking forward to the year ahead 🙂

Just a couple of quick housekeeping notes for my homeroom class…

1.There are still a few students who have yet to return forms and/or pay their $20.00 student fee. If you could kindly get those in as soon as possible, it would be greatly appreciated 🙂

2.Our annual “Meet the Staff Night” will take place on Thursday, September 13th beginning that 7:00pm in the Multipurpose Room. Everyone is reminded that there is no childcare provided for this evening.

Now here is a peek into the learning that will take place over the coming days in our classes…

French- On Friday we took the time to explore the foundational outcomes of the Grade 8 program together. We also shared a few giggles as we looked at a piece of writing from the end of Grade 4 and compared it to our writing today 🙂

This week we will continue our “Bootcamp” and diagnostic testing, as we prepare to set our learning goals for the coming months. We will also begin our first piece of writing for the year and review the importance of selecting a novel that will challenge us as readers.

As we continue to promote our improvement as speakers, each French period we will engage in oral language activities that will work to develop and improve our French speaking skills; fixing common errors and becoming more at ease in our second language. One of the first activities we will work on is a presentation containing only pictures. Students will create a slideshow using Google Slides and present it to the class later on this week. Their presentation must contain no long text: only images and single words. They will present without cue cards; using their slides as their talking points to present on their family, friends, the weather, their likes and dislikes, school and their community.

Science-Once again this year we will be using Google Chromebooks and our “etext” during our Science classes. Students will have access to both their textbook, and to interactive learning and assessment tools online both at home and at school 🙂 Today we begin our first unit entitled “L’univers matériel.” This week we will start a review of the particle theory, states of matter, and the properties of solutions and mixtures that we studied last year. We will also begin to look at the how matter is organized.

Grade 9 Science- This week we will kick off our first unit of study called “L’univers vivant.” This unit starts with a review of the cell and cell theory. We will then start exploring the parts of the cell that are necessary for cell division and reproduction including DNA. Once every cycle we will also spend some time working through our “l’univers téchnologique.” These classes be a break from our regular subject matter, as we explore the world of engineering through instant challenges and new vocabulary.

Grade 7 Science- During our Science classes together this first cycle, we will spend time getting acquainted with the lay of the land in the Science Lab; exploreing new vocabulary, the scientific method, as well as our “etext” and Google Classroom.

Grade 4-9 Core French-This week we will spend some time taking an inventory of what students already know in French as we get to know each other.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday night 🙂

Have a marvelous week!!!

Mme MacNevin

Last week, students in my three Science classes worked to save “Fred”- the gummi worm who had capsized his plastic cup boat and needed help finding and placing his life preserver to get to safety.

In French class, students worked to create a magical device that could be used to help them this year using the materials in their mystery bag. They presented their devices to the class and we voted to see which one we should adopt. It was a tight race but in the end “the straw that makes you smarter” came out on top 🙂

The problem solving, discussions and creativity at work during these challenges was unbelievable! I look forward to more of the same as we begin our first full week together 🙂

The first full week of September is here and I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of everyone back here at Gulf Shore!

I feel so lucky to be the Grade 8 Immersion homeroom teacher again this year, as I continue to watch an amazing group of young people learn and grow.

Tomorrow and Friday will be spent getting reacquainted with school routines and setting goals for our learning this year 🙂

We will even complete an Instant Challenge or two 😉

As always, many forms will be sent home with students on our first day back. Please ensure that these forms are sent back to the school as soon as possible along with the $20.00 student fee to cover the cost of student agendas and Home Economics/Industrial Arts programs.

Meet the Staff Night will be Thursday, September 13th and our Terry Fox Run will be on Friday, September 21st.

I wish everyone a wonderful 2018-2019 school year!

Bonne chance en 8ième année!!

Mme MacNevin